101 Connell prison inmates and staff test positive for COVID. Cases doubled in a week

The Coyote Ridge Correctional Center is locking down activities at its medium security complex after 101 inmates and employees have tested positive for COVID-19.

The number of inmates and staff infected with the coronavirus has doubled in a week despite a quarantine at the state facility in Connell.

A state official told the Herald on Friday that all the coronavirus cases have been within the medium security complex and no positive cases have been in the minimum security unit, which has not been put on restricted movement.

It’s by far the biggest outbreak in all of the Washington state prisons.

As of Thursday, 71 inmates had confirmed COVID tests and 30 staff members, said a release from the Department of Corrections on Thursday afternoon.

Corrections Communications Director Janelle Guthrie told the Herald that as of Thursday, 114 inmates had been tested for COVID.

State officials said 1,815 individuals were quarantined as of Wednesday, meaning they were exposed but do not have symptoms.

An additional 33 inmates were in isolation because they have symptoms and need to be separated from other people, said the state. Visitors already have not been allowed at the prison.

A week ago, the state reported 40 inmates and 12 employees had tested positive.

Quarantine extended

The facility in north Franklin County is about 30 miles north of Pasco was scheduled to be in quarantine through June 10. It as not clear how long the quarantine will be extended or when restricted movement will end.

Inmates who are housed in the medium security complex during the restriction will remain in their cells without the ability to freely enter and exit their cells. They will have limited time outside.

A state official with the department’s COVID response team at the Joint Information Center did not have immediate answers to questions raised by the Herald.

“Access to outside medical resources in the community is limited to a team of volunteer EMS professionals and hospitals more than one hour away,” said the release.

“The Department is deploying additional custody and health services staff to assist CRCC staff in caring for those incarcerated at the facility,” it said.

“Corrections is also suspending all food and textile production at the CRCC/Correctional Industries facility,” said the release.

The agency is shifting food production to the Airway Heights Corrections Center food factory and also will bring in food from outside vendors, said the department.

The laundry and food services will continue to operate with essential workers being screened as they start their shifts. They will wear personal protective equipment, such as face coverings, and practiced social distancing, said the state.

The only other serious COVID outbreak has been at the Monroe Correctional Complex. In all, 18 inmates tested positive but no others since the beginning of the month.

A report released June 5 by the Office of the Corrections Ombuds, said the assistant ombuds visited Coyote Ridge on May 15 and said masks were not properly worn or not at all in several areas of the facility.

In addition, a group of employees were seen gathered in an office and not everyone was wearing a mask.

In a May 29 letter, the Department of Corrections responded to the report that it will continue to remind staff and inmates about the importance of wearing face coverings at all times.

“All incarcerated individuals are required to wear a surgical mask anytime they leave their cell while under quarantine. Coyote Ridge Corrections Center has implemented social distancing protocols and is encouraging six feet of distance between people when able to do so,” the corrections department wrote in an email to the Herald.

This story was originally published June 11, 2020 at 5:04 PM.